The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-09-21
"REMINISCENCES or GRANT.
His Wits Dream That He Wonit We
Presidents His Early Liberality.

Special Correspondence
ST. LOUIS, Sept l9-Mrs Mary Robinson.
Familiarity known 10 her friends A. "Auntie.
an intelligent old colOred woman, who spen'
the greater portion Of her life a. the trusted
slave Of the Dent and Grant families, is now
spending her declining days az 8, 800 Caroline
avenue. in this city. Il lived with the Dent
family since my childhood said she, and
remember Gen Grants first visit to White
haven Mrs. Dent used 20 say 20 me. 1 Ike
that young man. for be has a noble heart
Il never saw man work harder than Gen
Grant did at Hardscrabbe-the farm he
livei on near St Louis He plowed, split
rails and drove his own team. He bad two
horses, named Bin and Tom, which
be- prized so highly that be would
scarcely allow any sne - drive them except
himself One 4 his PETE was large doI
named leo Whenever I wanted a chicken
20 cook ali that was necessary was 20 point
out the chicken to Leo, aud be would run
and catch lt | remember one day after /
had secure an / wanted. the dog continued
tocatch chickens. and Mr. Grant said Mamie.
that dog has gone into business on his own
book since sou dissolved partnership. Gen.
Grant used o. smoke "A pipe all the time. and
bis wife threw 10 away whenever She found
il living around lie read great deal, but
never said much One day % never forget
10 rs long as live-Mrs Grant was sitting
in large rocking chair talking % some Of
her relatives about family affair and the
financial troubles Of her husband. Suddenly
She said. We will not always be IN this con-
diuou Wait until Dude meaning Grant
become. president dresned last night that
be would be- elected president Every one
laughed AZ this as a capital joke.
Another most remarkable thing occurred
lust after this We had moved into the city
and were living ~ Seventh Snd Lynch
streets Gen Grant was "a candidate for
county surveyor One dny be came into the
house. careless ike. while Ms Grant aud /
were putting down carpets and said JuIio.
/ believe I wili ~ 90 Nine. - "a famous
fortune teller vino was Do the city nf that
fimel and .ee what She says about my cleo
ton He went away, and came back in
several hours and said. Julia, lm going 20
be beaten az tho coming election. VIII
come within an nee Of being elected. but
will be- beaten Tn a short time we viii leave
the city and will engage for time SO mer-
camille husiness-then something viii happen
and will begin 20 rise 100 the world MIS-.
Grant said. Nonsense Dudie. you viii be-
elected, everybody says you can't Boo beaten.
The election came or, and how excited "e ali
were and our disappointment was great
when 70 was found TINT Gen Grant was
beaten only hy a few votes.
MAJ john II Ligbtner speaking of Grants
candidacy for county surveyor said Too
1859 he applied to the county court over
which presided for the position n county
surveyor voted against hni f0r That posi-.
ton. lut afterward voted for hm twice for
president Col Solomon was bis successful
rival for the county surveyor.hip audi when
Grant was here after the war ! introduced
him % Col Solomon as the only mau who
had ever beaten him
Judge John T. Long knew Grant well. AMI
taught the first school Mrs Grant attended.
he says There was more boo Gen. Grant in
those days than people gave mm credit for
When Doe wa, living out m the country ! was
county marshal justice Of the peace and post.
master AT Ssppugtcn ] remember there
were several NJ us at The p0stlilioe talking one
day We had just heard Chat Squire Wise
sister Mahalevs house had burned the ught
before and that she bad lost everything She
was widow and we were talking about
making up purse for her. While W- were
talking Grant came up He was very poor
and mad hl, living hauling wood We told
HIM about the widows loss. and he didn't say
"a % ord but went down iu his pocket and
took ont s. H. then said. This is ali got.
but the woman is welcome 20 d.
Hundreds u similar anecdotes are told ~
Gen Grants experience in ST. Louis, and st.
Loui, owes more 10 the memory u Grant
than any Of her sister cities J0HN FAY.